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Staff handbook – All states

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The By Lawyers 101 Policies & Procedures guide has been re-named 101 Staff Handbook.

101 Staff Handbook is part of the By Lawyers Practice Management publication.

The handbook provides numerous policies and procedures to assist with management of a legal practice. These can be adopted or adapted by the firm as required.

Practitioners can also use this resource to assist their commercial clients with implementing appropriate policies and procedures in their businesses.

The extensive, practical content in the handbook covers all areas of legal practice. It includes the following most recent additions:

  • Managing client communications – Policies and procedures covering all aspects of firm communications including phone, email and written correspondence, plus a comprehensive complaint handling procedure.
  • Confidential information – A policy on protection of confidential information, which includes breaches.
  • Intellectual property – A simple policy for protecting the firm’s existing IP and dealing with any new IP created by team members in the course of their employment.
  • Working from home – A policy which clarifies the rights and obligations of team members and the firm in relation to working from home arrangements.

 

1 July updates – All states

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1 July updates are a big focus for By Lawyers. This is because many Commonwealth and state legislative instruments provide for scheduled indexing of relevant monetary amounts and increases in government fees and charges.

These updates can include court filing fees, lodgement fees for property dealings, minimum weekly compensation amounts for Workers Compensation and various fines.

By Lawyers always monitor these changes for our subscribers. Each year we ensure that our publications are amended where necessary to reflect 1 July updates.

We also monitor and update for legislative indexing and increases which occur regularly at other times. These include 1 January changes and also other specific dates prescribed by some statutes.

The 1 July updates have been applied, or are in the process of being applied as they get released, to the following By Lawyers publications:

  • Conveyancing and Property;
  • Criminal;
  • Litigation;
  • Family;
  • Estates;
  • Injuries; and
  • Employment.

Stay updated with By Lawyers guides and precedents. Happy new financial year!

RedCrest-Probate – VIC

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From 1 July 2020 all applications for grants of probate and letters of administration must be filed in RedCrest-Probate, which is the Supreme Court’s online filing system.

The documents required for a grant can be completed and uploaded as PDFs into RedCrest-Probate. Alternately they can be completed using the guided questions in the system.

The original will, or any other document upon which the application for a grant is based, must still be physically filed, or posted to the Court.

In a move to make the new process as electronic as possible, the original grant is the electronic copy issued by the court. Asset holders can view the original grant through RedCrest-Probate using a unique identifier and the application number appearing on the grant.

The By Lawyers Probate and Letters of Administration guides have been updated accordingly.

101 Family Law Answers – FED

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The By Lawyers reference manual 101 Family Law Answers has been updated with recent cases in the following sections:

Arbitration in family law

See Palgrove & Palgrove [2020] FCCA 846 at [12]-[29] for a discussion of arbitrability and the court’s jurisdiction to facilitate arbitration.

Injunctions

Dunworth & Falletti [2020] FamCA 178 where the balance of convenience favoured the grant of restraint.

Rahman & Rahman [2020] FamCA 156 where the husband’s appeal failed against an injunction that restrained him from leaving Australia until a lump sum payment was made.

Orders – Variation and the rule in Rice & Asplund

See Findlay & Reis [2020] FCCA 425 for an application to vary a parenting order, which was dismissed in accordance with the principles in Rice & Asplund.

Relocation

Franklyn & Franklyn [2019] FamCAFC 256 where a mother’s unilateral relocation was allowed on appeal, as she was still able to adhere to interim consent orders for the father’s fortnightly contact.

Soulos & Sorbo [2019] FamCAFC 231 where the father’s appeal was allowed to set aside the parenting orders permitting the mother and child to relocate overseas.

Section 75(2) factors – Disparity in financial positions

In Metzer & Metzer [2020] FCCA 119 the wife was unable to establish a 10% likely loss of earnings on the evidence presented. An adjustment of 2% only was made in favour of the wife.

Five factors were listed at [182] that are usually considered when determining residual earning capacity:

  1. physical capacity, including the reasonable restrictions required by reason of injuries;
  2. psychological capacity, taking into account any necessary restrictions, of which there was no evidence in this case;
  3. vocational capacity, for suitable jobs within suitable occupations, including all of her education, training and experience and transferable skills;
  4. labour market, including factors such as the existence of such jobs in the real world labour market which is to be considered, including any barriers to entry and competitiveness including by reason of work history and age; and
  5. earnings, including the likely range of earnings for such available jobs by reference to reliable published labour market statistics or current labour market research information.

 

101 Family Law Answers is a valuable resource for practitioners. It is available as a related guide and in the reference materials folder in all By Lawyers Family Law publications. It provides more detailed information and relevant cases on the various Family Law matter types – Property Settlement, Children, Financial Agreements and Divorce. It also covers some general procedural issues and the enforcement of orders.

101 Succession Answers – Vic

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By Lawyers is delighted to release the latest in our 101 Reference Series – the comprehensive reference guide 101 Succession Answers – VIC. This useful resource provides more detailed information than the By Lawyers commentaries on the various areas and issues in succession law. It includes discussion, with links to legislation and cases, on:

  • powers of attorney and supportive attorney appointment;
  • medical treatment decision-making;
  • wills;
  • appointments of guardianship and administration;
  • estates – probate and administration; and
  • family provision.

101 Succession Answers VIC is now a related guide in LEAP – and included for new and existing website subscribers – to these Victorian By Lawyers publications:

  • Wills, Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives;
  • Estates; and
  • Family Provision Claims.

This is a must-have, easy-reference, resource providing detailed information in a quickly accessible and searchable format. Tricky questions can be answered quickly using the guide’s alphabetical headings, ‘Ctrl+F’ searchability and plain English format. Practitioners can quickly address specific technical issues as they arise in a matter.

The By Lawyers team will be keeping 101 Succession Answers VIC updated with all relevant new cases and legislation as developments in these areas of law occur.

Subpoena objections – FED

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New cases on subpoena objections in the Federal jurisdiction have been added to the By Lawyers reference guide 101 Subpoena Answers.

In Kitchen v Director of Professional Services Review under s 83 of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (No 3) [2020] FCA 634 the Federal Court affirmed McIlwain v Ramsey Food Packaging Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1233 and also Tamawood Ltd v Habitare Developments Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 364 to the effect that:

  • a request for a subpoena cannot be used to disguise an application for discovery of documents, or as an alternative to an application for further and better discovery;
  • documents for production must be identified with reasonable particularity;
  • the material sought must have an adjectival relevance, that is, an apparent relevance to the issues in the principal proceedings; there must be a legitimate forensic purpose for the production of documents;
  • a mere ‘fishing’ exercise can never justify the issue of subpoenas;
  • a wide-ranging subpoena seeking documents of doubtful relevance at great inconvenience to, or that risk compromising the commercial privacy of, a third party, may not readily attract the grant of leave; and
  • the issue of the subpoena must not, in all the circumstances, be oppressive in terms of its impact on the recipient.

101 Subpoena Answers is available in all By Lawyers litigation guides. It can assist practitioners with issuing and responding to subpoenas in all jurisdictions including the various grounds for subpoena objections.

Transfer of real property – Family Law – FED

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Often the resolution of Family Law matters requires a transfer of real property between the parties. Transfers pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975 attract transfer duty exemptions or the payment of only nominal duty. Each state and territory has its own process to effect the transfer of real property in the context of relationship breakdowns.

Information has been added to the 101 Family Law Answers reference manual which helpfully sets out the processes for the transfer of real property due to relationship breakdown. The relevant stamp or transfer duty information for each state or territory is also available in 101 Family Law Answers.

The necessary forms for transferring property between parties are accessible from the Property Settlement matter plan. They are located in the Library of real property transfer and duties forms in the Settling it early or Finalising the matter folders.

The process is the same whether the relationship was a marriage or a de facto relationship.

101 Family Law Answers is available as a related guide in all By Lawyers Family Law publications. It provides more detailed information and relevant cases on the various Family Law matter types – Property Settlement, Children, Financial Agreements and Divorce. It also covers some general procedural issues and the enforcement of orders.

1001 Conveyancing Answers – VIC

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The very popular By Lawyers reference manual 1001 Conveyancing Answers (VIC) has received an extensive review by our author Russell Cocks.

As part of Russell’s review, many relevant 2019 and 2020 cases have been added. These include:

1001 Conveyancing Answers (VIC) is available in all of our Victorian property law guides. This comprehensive reference work assists property lawyers and conveyancers to understand the conveyancing process and to solve problems for their clients as and when they arise. The publication includes detailed information to address issues quickly and clarify areas of uncertainty.

This cornerstone By Lawyers publication is a must have for all lawyers and conveyancers dealing with property matters and the conveyancing process in Victoria.

 

JobKeeper scheme – FED

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Details of the Federal government’s JobKeeper scheme have been added to By Lawyers Dealing with COVID-19 legal issues – Some practical information publication.

JobKeeper payment stimulus package

The purpose of the JobKeeper package is to assist employers to retain their employees and improve the viability of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the scheme, employers will receive $1,500 per employee fortnightly. Employees must be paid a minimum of $1,500 fortnightly before tax. The JobKeeper payment will be available from 30 March 2020 until 27 September 2020.

Employers pay their employees as usual and then get reimbursed by the ATO, monthly in arrears.

The new commentary covers the important aspects of the scheme. These include the eligibility criteria for both employers and employees. There are also answers to frequently asked questions.

A link is provided to the ATO website which sets out how to Enrol for the JobKeeper payment.

New powers for employers under the JobKeeper scheme

The Federal parliament has complemented the JobKeeper scheme by giving new powers to employers covered by the scheme. The Fair Work Act has been amended by the insertion of Part 6-4C that allows an employer to temporarily modify employment terms and conditions, if they are eligible for the JobKeeper scheme. This is referred to as an employer giving a ‘JobKeeper enabling direction’ to a particular employee.

The new powers include options for workforce flexibility and reducing workforce costs. This gives eligible employers the ability to stand down employees or reduce their hours, change the duties they perform, or change their location of work. The amendments also allow an eligible employer to make an agreement with an employee about work days or times, as well as the employee taking annual leave, including at half pay.

Before a JobKeeper direction can be given, employers must meet minimum requirements. For example, employers need to satisfy consultation requirements which includes notifying the employee at least three days before making a JobKeeper enabling direction, or a lesser time by agreement. No forms have been prescribed for this purpose. By Lawyers has provided example content letters, which are available from within the commentary.

These amendments enable the Fair Work Commission to conciliate and arbitrate disputes about a JobKeeper direction or request.

For more information about the JobKeeper scheme refer to Dealing with COVID-19 legal issues – Some practical information, which is available in all By Lawyers guides.

Opportunities for law firms – All states

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Opportunities for law firms during the COVID-19 period

This time of reduced activity presents opportunities for law firms to find efficiencies, upskill staff and switch focus to diversify into other practice areas.

Despite the encouragement to self-help with the writings of such luminaries as Stephen Covey the one habit that remains rigid is the resistance to change. Covey’s advice is to work on the practice not just in the practice. This is an ideal time to do so.

Office organisation provides the basis of profitable and worry-free practice. Profit is not necessarily related to size or location or how busy a firm may be. Busy firms are often poor profit performers due to poor managerial practices. The more profitable firms simply better organise and manage their practices. This is achievable through the use of LEAP’s matter and accounts management software and By Lawyers Practice Management Guide and Office Policies, both uniquely suitable for handling matters remotely.

Accompanying work on office organisation is the opportunity to supplement the firm’s precedents, which are generally dependent on the personal knowledge and style of the practitioner and are often accessed from previously closed files or written anew each time. This practice can now be improved and supplemented with By Lawyers professionally drafted precedent packages ensuring complete subject matter coverage and consistency.

By Lawyers resources

By Lawyers have the resources to enable advantage to be taken of these opportunities for law firms. The By Lawyers precedents are presented in sequential order in a plan for the conduct of each matter from opening to closing each file from compliant disclosures and initial letters through all required documents to final letters. All of the precedents are contained within the LEAP software and have been automated with fields and codes.

To assist practitioners in the practice and law behind every precedent By Lawyers present a unique system of integrating research commentary with the precedents with outgoing links to legislation and case law when required. This system allows even the rustiest practitioner to successfully and compliantly navigate a less familiar area of law and satisfy the client by producing the desired outcomes on time. At present it is difficult to turn away any work simply because it might be outside a firm’s normal experience. All new work creates more new work. Witness the family law client that needs new wills and the sale and purchase of a home or a business purchaser who needs a company shareholders agreement or a partnership agreement.

By Lawyers daily keeps up to date with changes to law and practice removing this concern from then firm. Ideal for staff training, undertaking new work and being more productive By Lawyers guides are only available as a companion product to LEAP Legal Software and are perfect for those working from home or in the office.

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